Update: Check out our most recent article on this subject HERE.

PanelView Plus 700The ability to transfer Rockwell Software’s FactoryTalk View Machine Edition runtime files (.mer) to the PanelView Plus and PanelView Plus 6 using standard USB Memory Stick (aka USB flash drive, USB thumb drive) is a handy feature, if you know how to do it.

In most cases, you’d typically download the runtime file (.mer) directly to the PVPlus via Ethernet, however there are some occasions when this won’t be practical:

  • When the PVPlus isn’t networked
  • When the PVPlus doesn’t have an IP address assigned
  • When the PVPlus doesn’t have an Ethernet Port (some 400 and 600 models)
  • When there’s no easy way to get your PC near the PVPlus to connect to it
  • When you have an old pre-6 version of ViewStudio (and the Transfer Utility,) but a new PVPlus 6 (the PVP6 does support older v3.1-v5.1 .mer’s, however the old Transfer Utility doesn’t support the new PVP6)

Sandisk Memory StickIn these cases, using a USB memory stick to transfer your program from your development PC to the PanelView Plus can be the quickest and easiest, if not the only way to get your file on the unit.

The trick is, the PVPlus and PVPlus 6 only look in one folder on the USB stick for .mer files, and unless your .mer is located in this location the PanelView Plus won’t find it:

Rockwell Software\RSViewME\Runtime

PVPlus Load ScreenBut before you go manually creating these folders you should know of a neat little trick to have them created for you automatically.

If you insert your USB memory stick into your PanelView Plus, then browse the USB memory stick, if the PanelView doesn’t find the default directory on the USB stick it create it for you.

To do this, start by plugging your USB memory stick into your PanelView Plus.

Next, from the configuration menu select “Load Application” and change the source to “External Storage 1” which represents your USB memory stick (assuming no other removable memory was installed prior to your inserting of the USB memory stick.)

After a few seconds, change the source back to internal storage and back out of the load menu.

Click here for a list of currently available USB Memory Sticks and Flash Drives

Now remove your USB Memory Stick from the PanelView and plug it into your PC.

Then browse it with Windows Explorer and you should find the required folders have been created for you.

At this point you can copy your .mer file(s) to the memory stick into the Rockwell SoftwareRSViewMERuntime directory.

Then safely eject it from your PC, and plug it back into the PanelView Plus.

Now, back on the PVPlus, navigate to the File Manager screen under Terminal Settings.

Then copy your .mer runtime application to the internal storage of the PanelView Plus.

Load the application, and set it’s defaults, and in most cases you’ll also want to go back into terminal settings and setup the startup options as well.

I hope the above information on how to use a USB memory stick to transfer runtime files to your PanelView Plus was helpful.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please feel free to share them with us by using the “post a comment or question” link below.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.

Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator

Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.

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15 COMMENTS

  1. Hello. thanks for the tip. does this folder structure ” Rockwell Software\RSViewME\Runtime” also work for PanelView 800 (2711R-T7T) ? I tried that but still not detecting USB . Please advice .

  2. Shawn,

    Thank you for the great idea.

    But i had a little bit problem when i implemented it in Panelview Plus 700, when the alarm/diagnostic display was active, the button to close them (F4) can not be activated (same behaviour with F1, F2, F3).

    When i try to change the display number of alarm, diagnostic, information to non zero number, it made the button of the active screen can not be activated.

    Do you have any idea related to this issue ?

    Thanks before…

    • Good morning Nur,

      Not sure if you posted this comment on the right article as I can’t find the suggestion you are referring to?

      In any case, to be clear are you saying that when an alarm occurs and the alarm display pops up, you can’t close it by pressing F4? (sounds like the same is true of the diagnostic display?)

      Can you confirm the model is indeed a touchscreen and you can press buttons on other screens?

      Also, can you check in the project to if the screen control tag under global connections is being used?

      Sincerely,

      Shawn Tierney

      Join my free community to follow along! You can also become a member and support our work at: Automation.Locals.com

        • Good morning again Nur,

          Sounds like the “on top” display you have the ActiveX on is stealing focus away from your other displays, but I don’t understand why it is happening.

          When you run your application on your PC does the same thing happen?

          Sincerely,

          Shawn Tierney

          • Good morning Shawn,
            It also has same behaviour when i tried with the pc, i can not change display by press the button F1, F2, F3, etc.
            But when i clicked the button with the mouse, i can change the display, same with the panelview, if i used mouse, it was working.

            Thank you Shawn for your kind for sharing.